An Oily Girl's Dream? A Review of the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Foundation

As excited as I am to see a forecast full of 70 degree weather, there is one definitive downside to the sunny warmth of spring. My skin will begin its transformation from usually-kinda-shiny to uber-mega-greasefest. Yes, oily skin shows signs of aging more slowly than dry skin, so I've got that going for me. But in the meantime, the struggle to keep my makeup from literally melting off my face is real.

If you're in the same boat as I, you've probably tried what feels a million different mattifying foundations, primers, and powders in pursuit of some miracle product that doesn't make you cakey and dry as the Sahara, but that also doesn't break down and turn into a shiny mess after a few hours. While I've certainly encountered my fair share of adequate products, finding something that truly blows my mind is a rarity.

And that's what we're here to discuss today.

Picking Your Perfect Sunscreen: Clearing Up the Confusion Around SPF

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We all know sunscreen is important. Not only can sun exposure damage our skin and cause it to show signs of premature aging, but it can also lead to pre-cancerous or cancerous growths. We also know that slathering yourself up for a beach day is kind of a no-brainer, but truly any day that we're seeing the sunshine (even if it's just on a trip to the grocery store) we should be using some kind of sun protection. And when I say seeing the sunshine, I don't just mean a beautiful, clear-blue-skies kind of day. Cloud cover can actually trap UV rays and intensify them, so your exposure actually increases when it's overcast. TLDR: if you're outside during the daytime, you need sun protection.

Still, many of us aren't consistent with our use of SPF. We know that the best way to protect ourselves is to make applying sunscreen a part of our skincare daily routine, but getting into the habit can be a bit of a challenge. For me, the biggest game changer was finding a sunscreen I actually enjoyed wearing and that worked well with my skin. The process of finding the perfect SPF is always easier when you know what to look for, so I'm going to attempt to clear up some of the confusion and give you a little more confidence the next time you stroll down the sunscreen aisle.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Palette Review

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If you haven't already met the latest addition to the Anastasia Beverly Hills family of eyeshadow palettes, let me take a moment to properly introduce you. The Soft Glam Palette is Anastasia's homage to the season of special occasions - from proms, to cocktail parties, to showers and weddings, this collection of essential neutral shades has everything you need for a classic, elegant look. The overall response to this palette launch has been pretty polarized by the beauty community. Some people are head-over-heels in love with the shade selection, while others find it to be one of the most boring debuts of 2018. Considering the fact that I made the decision to add this palette to my collection you can probably guess which side of the fence I'm on.

To me, Soft Glam is a timeless palette that can just as easily create an everyday, work appropriate look as a sultry, smokey eye. It doesn't have the most earth shattering or unique combination of colors, however that's exactly why I think I was drawn towards it. While there are seemingly countless options of neutral palettes on the market, not all of them deliver on quality the way that ABH does. This particular shade selection, paired with Anastasia's fantastic eyeshadow formula, was all the convincing I needed.